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5 signs you’re ready to stop renting and buy a home

Not sure if it’s the right time to spend your hard-earned money on a home deposit? These signs might indicate you’re ready to stop renting and take the plunge.

1. You want an asset that may grow in value over time

This is what’s known as capital growth. If your property value increases, so does your equity, which is the difference between your property’s value and what you owe on your home loan.

Down the track, you could potentially use this equity for other things like further investments, home renovations, or as a deposit for your next home.

2. You want more stability

If you buy your own home, there’s no risk that a landlord will tell you to move out. What’s more, owning a home can offer additional security in retirement, as you won’t need to worry about paying rent after you stop working.

3. You want to make a home your own

Buying a home means you have freedom to make changes to it. You can mount a TV on the wall, update the carpet or recreate that gallery wall you saw on Pinterest.

4. You can afford the mortgage repayments and ongoing costs

Home loan repayments might be more affordable than you think. Our borrowing power and repayments calculator can help you work out how much you could borrow and what your repayments might be. Compare the repayment estimates to what you’re currently spending on rent and you might be surprised to find there may not be that much of a difference.

Keep in mind that there are some ongoing costs involved in buying a home that you don’t need to worry about when renting, like council rates, strata fees and property upkeep.

Or how about buying and renting at the same time?

If you can’t afford to buy a property in an area you want to live or you’re not ready to put down roots, you might like to consider something called ‘rentvesting.’ This involves living in a rental property while buying an investment property in a more affordable area. Find out more about what to consider when rentvesting.

Before you take the plunge…

Buying a home is a big decision and there’s a lot to think about first. Our Home Finance Managers can answer any questions and talk you through what’s possible.

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The information contained in this article is of a general nature and is not intended to be nor should it be considered as professional advice. You should not act on the basis of anything contained in this article without first obtaining specific professional advice. Also to the extent permitted by law, Bankwest, a division of Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL/Australian credit licence 234945, its related bodies corporate, employees and contractors accept no liability or responsibility to any persons for any loss which may be incurred or suffered as a result of acting on or refraining from acting as a result of anything contained in this article.